Crime & Safety

Repeat Homeless Shoplifter Arrested at Downtown Mini-Mart

Stamford police have arrested David Park, a local homeless man who had received numerous warnings about theft, harassment, and misbehavior in Stamford's downtown area.

David Park, 27, has been charged with breach of peace and attempt to commit larceny for attempting to steal a six-pack of beer from a downtown convenience store that he'd stolen from several times before.

SPD officers received a report of attempted larceny at 895 Washington Blvd., the location of Downtown Mini-Mart, around 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to a police incident report. "Upon arrival, officers observed two males holding a white male down on the ground in front of the Mini-Mart," Park's arrest report states. "The white male, later identified as David Park, was screaming obscenities at people passing by the store while officers were trying to investigate the incident."

Officers interview the shop's owner. According to the owner's account of the attempted theft, Park had stolen from the Mini-Mart before and fled on foot. On the evening of Aug. 31, Park came into the store and took a six-pack of beer out of the cooler.

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"The owner said that he told Park to put the beer down and leave the store. The owner said that he was trying to push Park out of the store, but he would not leave."

At this point, two witnesses who allege that they saw Park attempting to steal helped the shop owner physically restrain Park. Park struck one of the witnesses, according to Park's arrest report, and began to curse at pedestrians in the area.

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An SPD officer who'd heard the call but did not respond stated that he'd dealt with Park "several times last week". A second account of Park's past activities in Downtown Stamford suggests that he was warned that the next time he either shoplifted or harassed a pedestrian, the report would result in his arrest.

Park's arrest report further alleges that he was uncooperative with police after his arrest at 9:53 p.m. Wednesday night. He is currently held on $250.00 and will be in court Thursday afternoon.


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